Gran Turismo®5 On Shelves!

Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand (SCENZ) and Polyphony Digital Inc today welcome the arrival of one of the most anticipated games of all time, as Gran Turismo®5 purrs into stores exclusively on PlayStation®3 (PS3™). The world’s best-selling driving simulator is back, and it’s bigger, with more depth and more exhilarating action than ever before. Available in three different editions; Standard Edition priced at $132.84, Collector’s Edition at $143.06 and Signature Edition at $357.72, Gran Turismo 5 delivers a racing experience like no other.

Thanks to the vision and energy of Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital Inc. and creator of the series, Gran Turismo has consistently raised the bar in terms of quality of design and physics technology with every product release. Gran Turismo 5 is no exception and sets new standards in terms of graphics, presentation, and gameplay.

Commenting on the launch Yamauchi said, “Gran Turismo 5 represents the latest milestone in a journey which has spanned a decade. The vision and the experience is such that it has attracted the attention of the whole motoring world. The result is a testing ground, a play ground and a showcase for motoring, built around the sport of racing. Today we blend reality with the virtual: from the painstaking re-creation of existing cars to the redefinition, in Red Bull X1, of the future of motorsports.”

The new racing simulation game features more than 1,000 licensed cars from the world’s top manufacturers, with a unique mixture of new and old, and everyday road cars, pure racers and supercars, all recreated in breathtaking detail. With the line-up including the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Ferrari 458 Italia, the Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce, GTbyCitroen, McLaren MP4 12C and Nissan GT-R, the only dilemma will be which one to power up first. Unless you prefer to try the VW Samba bus for a novel change.

In addition to the vast array of vehicles from motor racing’s past and present, Gran Turismo 5 looks to the future with the inclusion of the Red Bull X1. The Red Bull X1 marks a unique partnership between Kazunori Yamauchi, and Red Bull Racing's aerodynamics expert, Adrian Newey. Their challenge was to build the ultimate racing car without the constraint of rules and regulations. The result was the conception of the "Red Bull X1 Prototype". Red Bull Racing even drafted in Formula 1 World Champion driver Sebastian Vettel to perform the virtual shakedown test and give feedback on settings for this Gran Turismo 5 car. A full scale model of the car will be unveiled at the Gran Turismo 5 celebratory launch event in Madrid tomorrow.

You can almost smell the leather as you settle back in your seat to tackle the finest race circuits the world has to offer. Choose from 26 locations with more than 70 layouts including legendary circuits such as the Nürburgring and the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, all rendered in high definition. And if that is not enough, Gran Turismo 5 delivers Course Maker, giving you the power to generate your own bespoke circuits so that you can push yourself to the limit, or just choose your favourite location and enjoy the driving experience.

It’s time to take your competitive grudges to the track with the deepest online racing experience available. You can now race against up to 15 friends or foes on PlayStation®Network, goad them with taunts on the in game message board, share your photos and track creations or gift them with cars or in-game items. The entire experience can also be accessed by logging into http://www.gran-turismo.com/ with your
PlayStation Network ID. GT My Home is the place to manage your car portfolio and your in-game progress. It also gives you access to your own private racing lounge where you can wait for the next race to begin whilst studying the opposition drivers with live race feeds, or jump in to display your own prowess.

The fan-favourite career mode returns, but has now been reborn in Gran Turismo 5 as "GT LIFE". In the new "GT LIFE", the basic flow of clearing license tests, participating in races, collecting rewards and purchasing more expensive, faster cars has not changed. But now, how you "live" is divided into two separate modes – A-Spec and B-Spec.  In the A-spec mode, you are a racing driver. Getting behind the wheel yourself, you will hone your driving skills, and challenge one race at a time.

For those who want something more than the driving experience, Gran Turismo 5 offers the chance to cross the pit lane and take an alternative career path as Team Director in B-Spec mode. You’ll be keeping a close eye on the competition and playing to your AI drivers’ strengths to ensure they win their races. B-Spec is a unique feature to Gran Turismo and will help you take your race craft to the next level as you become a savvy strategist.

Gran Turismo 5 introduces a vast variety of new technologies, but the most impressive are the visual effects. This is perfectly illustrated through the “transition of time" that transforms gameplay from a clear afternoon with the sun high in the sky, through dusk when the sun hangs low and the sky turns red, to the enveloping darkness of the night. The effects at night have a particular glamour as the scenery ahead is illuminated by your headlights and the dirt kicked up in your wake glows under the tail lights. These natural, every-day scenes are what bring the game that much closer to reality. Gran Turismo 5 also introduces all new damage modelling, and with a premium selection of almost 200 models in the game meticulously recreated both inside and out, each dent and scratch will be a painful experience.

The era of 3D has arrived and adds to the excitement and sensations of Gran Turismo 5. Using 3D-compatible televisions with 3D glasses, you can experience an ultra-realistic impression never seen before. The other major feature is a unique face tracking function using the PlayStation®Eye camera for PlayStation 3. By using facial recognition with the PlayStation Eye, you can move your face to the left and right to move your field of vision whilst driving at exhilarating high speeds.

Andrew House, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, added “Gran Turismo is more than just our most successful franchise, it is a showcase for gaming and for the pure excitement and fun available on PlayStation 3 and through the PlayStation Network. If you have ever dreamed of that special car, and wondered what it would be like to get behind the wheel, then GT5 is the title for you.”

More than a thousand cars, a global community of racers, the world’s most iconic racetracks and the drive of a lifetime – that’s Gran Turismo 5. Experience astounding realism, pulse-raising physics, high-speed thrills and a full tank of international motoring glamour as you race against friends at home or online against champions from around the world, and build yourself a stable of the finest cars ever to have graced the tarmac. Are you ready for the drive of your life? Gran Turismo 5 is available in stores today, only on PlayStation 3.